The First Lady of Peru recently visited leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in her country. She learned about the Church’s humanitarian efforts and toured the missionary training center (MTC) in Lima.
On Tuesday, August 17, 2021, Peru’s First Lady Lilia Paredes met with Elder Jorge F. Zeballos, president of the South America Northwest Area. He was accompanied by his wife, Carmen Gloria Valenzuela, at the Church’s Area office in La Molina.
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The first lady and her entourage toured the administrative offices and learned about the Church’s humanitarian aid program. She expressed gratitude for the program’s efforts to help those in need.
“I want to thank you and also God for having people like you,” she said. “It is a special joy for me to see all that they have done and will continue to do for the benefit of those most in need… I know that with your help, we will achieve many things for the benefit of those who need it.”
Elder Zeballos responded, “For the Church, it is a privilege to coordinate aid actions with all formal organizations that have the noble role of looking after the poor and needy. In fact, that is the teaching of the Savior Jesus Christ. We celebrate the honor of your visit and joining forces with your office to lighten the burdens of those who suffer.”
Elder Zeballos offered a prayer to end the meeting. He asked for a special blessing for Peru and the presidential family as the new president begins his term. Elder Zeballos and his wife then presented the first lady with a bouquet of flowers, a symbolic sculpture of a family and framed copies of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” and “The Living Christ.” Elder Zeballos said the Church sees the family as the axis of the development of societies.
The meeting culminated with a tour of the MTC. This is one of 10 locations around the world where young volunteers from different countries train to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Church has been in Peru for more than six decades and has nearly 700,000 members.